All guards were called over, and underwater blessings were used to dive into the lake. The Emperor of Light stood atop the edge of his palace before raising his hand. Light gathered on his fingertips before he waved his arm, sending a thousand bolts into the water.
The water sizzled under the searing light, and it started to boil. Corpses of monsters rose to the surface, with their bodies cleanly pierced through. However, the attack turned no fugitive.
"Find them," said the emperor with a frown. The woman beside him was Eloisa, with her long curly hair and freckled face. She stared at the trench with interest before turning toward her ruler.
"And do what?" she asked for more intel. "Our goal has been achieved, and the citizens now think of Arthur Silvera as the enemy. So this is what you wanted, right?"